South Africa university protests

Several South African universities have reported violent protests by demonstrators who are persisting in efforts to disrupt classes as part of a campaign for free education.

The University of Cape Town and Rhodes University in the city of Grahamstown are among institutions that reported alleged vandalism and stone-throwing by protesters.

The University of Cape Town says there have been many reports of confrontations between protesters, people who oppose the disruptions, and private security guards on campus. It says police have also been involved, setting off two stun grenades and a smoke grenade to disperse protesters.

Protests have been held on numerous South African campuses since last month. While there is widespread support for the goal of free education, many students also want to complete their studies.

Students chant and sing at the University of Cape town as they protest for free education in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Students gather at the University of Cape town as they protest for free education in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Protesters also blocked entrances at the University of Cape Town, which has suspended classes on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the unrest. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Students run for cover as police fire stun grenades and rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse them, during their protest for free education in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. A leading university in South Africa has closed for the rest of the week because of violence by protesters demanding free education across the country. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Students run for cover as police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse them during a protest, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. South African police on Wednesday set off stun grenades and threw tear gas at stone-throwing students from a leading university who were demonstrating for free education. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Students gather on a campus of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, before clashes took place with police and private security officers. Police fired rubber bullets and set off stun grenades to disperse the protesters after the university announced it was re-opening despite sometimes violent demonstrations for free education. (AP Photo/Wikus de Wet)

Students watch a police officer walk past at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016. South African police have fired rubber bullets and set off stun grenades to disperse student protesters on a university campus in Johannesburg. The clash occurred Tuesday at the University of the Witwatersrand, which had announced it was re-opening after closing because of sometimes violent demonstrations for free education. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A student, left, hurls a stone at police and private security on the University of the Witwatersrand campus in Johannesburg South Africa on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Tear gas and water cannon were fired as hundreds of students protested at the university amid a bitter national dispute with university managers and the government over demonstrators' demands for free education. (AP Photo)

A woman covers her mouth after a stun grenade was used by South African police, after students broke windows at the University of Cape town campus in Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. The University of Cape Town re-opened Monday after closing because of security concerns, but police were on campus and used a stun grenade to disperse protesters outside a university building. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

A protesting student runs past a burning bus off campus outside the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Tear gas and water cannon were fired as hundreds of students protested at the university amid a bitter national dispute with university managers and the government over demonstrators' demands for free education, forcing student into the neighboring city streets. (AP Photo)

South African students dance outside Cleveland Police Station in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday Oct. 16, 2016, after a leader of university student protests for free education was arrested overnight. Mcebo Dlamini was detained during investigations into "violence, criminality, intimidation," said South African Police. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Security guards keep a door closed as they try and prevent students from entering a building at the University of Cape town campus in Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. The University of Cape Town re-opened Monday after closing because of security concerns, but police were on campus and used a stun grenade to disperse protesters outside a university building. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Students from the University of Cape Town take part in a protest for free education by disrupting classes in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. The University of Cape Town re-opened Monday after closing because of security concerns, but police were on campus and used a stun grenade to disperse protesters outside a university building. Another building was evacuated because of vandalism by protesters who tossed sewage in the corridors, said the statement. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

A policeman puts his hand outside his van while providing security at the University of Cape Town, as students protest for free education by disrupting classes in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. The University of Cape Town re-opened Monday after closing because of security concerns, but police were on campus and used a stun grenade to disperse protesters outside a university building. Another building was evacuated because of vandalism by protesters who tossed sewage in the corridors, said the statement. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Students from the University of the Witwatersrand enter the General Hall after marching downtown Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Protests calling for free education have sometimes turned violent, not this time, and have roiled many South African universities since last month. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A building burns as students protest at the University of Western Cape campus in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. While there is widespread support for the idea of free education, the South African government says it can only cover fee increases for poor students next year and has been harshly critical of student protests involving vandalism and stone-throwing. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

A student protestor holds up his hands as he and others throw stones at police and passersby at the University of Western Cape campus in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. While there is widespread support for the idea of free education, the South African government says it can only cover fee increases for poor students next year and has been harshly critical of student protests involving vandalism and stone-throwing. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Two students at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg take a selfie in front of police vehicles stationed on campus Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. Sometimes violent protests for free education have hit many campuses in South Africa since last month. Some universities are struggling to finish the academic year because of the unrest. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Students demonstrate downtown Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. The students were granted last minute permission to walk to the Union Building. Protests calling for free education have sometimes turned violent, and have affected many South African universities since last month. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Students from the University of the Witwatersrand march Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 through downtown Johannesburg, South Africa. Protests calling for free education have sometimes turned violent and have roiled many South African universities since last month. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Students demonstrate downtown Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. A group of 200 were granted a last minute permission to walk to the Union Building. Protests calling for free education have at times turned violent, and affected many South African universities since last month. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Students demonstrate downtown Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. The students were granted last minute permission to walk to the Union Building. Protests calling for free education have sometimes turned violent, and have affected many South African universities since last month. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A student protestor, right, is hit by a rock thrown by a fellow protestor in Cape Town, South Africa, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016.South African police have used stun grenades to disperse student protesters outside parliament, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

A riot policeman watches as a police vehicle burns in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Rioters in South Africa set a police vehicle on fire Tuesday and stoned vehicles near a Johannesburg university that has been the scene of sometimes violent protests by students demanding free education. The violence broke out in streets near the University of the Witwatersrand at around the same time that student protesters met and marched off the campus, South African media reported. (AP Photo/Yeshiel Panchia)